We're Parents

Zesty Summer Pasta Salad

by

This zesty summer pasta salad is the perfect dish to take to all your upcoming summer get-togethers and outings.  It’s a cold pasta salad with zesty Italian dressing and sure to be a big hit!  

Vegan Pasta Salad

There are certain recipes that will remind you of happier times. Like summers ago with your entire family around a grill, jumping in and out of the pool all day, and running around without a care in the world. It’s up to you whether your children will have those same magical memories now. Though it seems like a big feat at times, sometimes food elicits memories of what made it special. By focusing in on those memories, you can remember how to make it special for your own littles. 
This homemade pasta salad is one of those recipes for me. To me, it’s the best pasta salad because of those memories. It’s one very similar to what my aunt used to make at every single summer cookout we had. This easy pasta salad recipe is also one of the few ways my mom could get me to eat vegetables as a child. Since moving to New Jersey though, I see my family less, so I needed to learn to make this Italian pasta salad myself.
cold pasta salad recipe

How to make homemade Italian pasta salad 

For this delicious cold pasta salad recipe there’s just 5 ingredients + the Italian salad dressing. You can choose to buy bottled zesty Italian dressing or we share our zesty pasta salad dressing recipe below. For this vegan pasta salad you need cooked pasta (we use angel hair), cherry tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and zesty Italian dressing. 
The most difficult part of this entire dish is cooking the pasta for 8 minutes. So, if you can cook pasta, you can make this recipe. Add everything to a big bowl and stir, stir, stir, until everything is mixed together well. Refrigerate and done! It’s really that simple to make this summer pasta salad.
homemade summer pasta salad

Summer Pasta Salad Recipe 

0 from 0 votes
Print
Zesty Summer Pasta Salad
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
18 mins
 

This zesty summer pasta salad is the perfect dish to take to all your upcoming summer get-togethers and outings.  It's a cold pasta salad with zesty Italian dressing and sure to be a big hit!  

Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 16 people
Calories: 188 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 lb angel hair pasta
  • 2 cups homemade Zesty Italian Dressing (recipe below)
  • 1/2 cup carrots, grated (approximately 4-6 large carrots)
  • 1 1/2 cups broccoli, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups cauliflower, finely chopped
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to the boxed instructions.

  2. Drain and transfer pasta to a large bowl. 

  3. Add remaining ingredients, except the tomatoes. 

  4. Stir until very well combined. 

  5. Add in the halved cherry tomatoes and give a quick toss (not too much, you don't want to over work the tomatoes). 

  6. Chill in the refrigerate at least 2 hours or until ready to serve. 

  7. Refrigerate any remaining pasta salad for up to 5 days. 

Recipe Notes

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad Dressing Recipe

In a large bottle or bowl, combine the following, shake or stir very well. Then, ready for use. Refrigerate any leftovers. 
  • 1 cup olive oil 
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • juice from half a lemon
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/8 cup red onion, finally chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Nutrition Facts
Zesty Summer Pasta Salad
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 188 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 9%
Sodium 305mg 13%
Potassium 222mg 6%
Total Carbohydrates 27g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 5g
Protein 4g 8%
Vitamin A 17.5%
Vitamin C 23.7%
Calcium 2.1%
Iron 4.2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Zesty Summer Pasta Salad Recipe for later!

zesty italian summer pasta salad - cold pasta salad - vegan pasta salad
This post was originally published on 5/21/2014.  Same great recipe but our photography skills have greatly improved.  Here’s some of the original photos. 
cold pasta salad recipes from scratch
easy pasta salad
easy pasta salad recipe

Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadillas

by

These dairy-free baked chicken quesadillas as so insanely delicious, they’ll have you forgetting that you’re even missing any dairy. Try out these delicious stuffed quesadillas today! 

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ProgressIsPerfection #CBias #CollectiveBias

Even though I loved dairy, when we had our first baby, Larisha had to go dairy free. Obviously, she wasn’t going to cook multiple meals when it was just her, I and a tiny newborn, so subsequently I went dairy free also. I was surprised how easy this little switch could be. I thought it was going to be miserable, but it was really quite simple. One of our favorite meals quickly became chicken, bean, and avocado quesadillas. Surprisingly, the avocado actually binds the tortilla shells together like cheese would do and it’s absolutely delicious!

How to make a dairy free baked chicken quesadilla?

First, we start by soaking the chicken in Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk for 30 minutes.  After that, we dredge the chicken in a combination of flour, bread crumbs, and taco seasoning. We then baked the chicken for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Then, it’s time to put the quesadilla together. The topping possibilities are endless, but the basic of this recipe is a 10″ tortilla, avocado, chicken, and black beans. Other toppings may include: salsa or tomatoes, jalapeños, corn, cilantro, onions, and more.

This one dairy-free recipe seriously made my transition to a healthier lifestyle of much easier! It’s a must have recipe. If you are also gluten-free, you can try this on a corn tortilla, but just be extra careful when flipping since corn tortillas never hold up as well as flour.

Making Life Easier

Another thing that has made parenting easier recently is learning about Walmart’s online grocery pick up. It’s completely free as long as you purchase at least $30 in groceries. I was able to easily choose everything I needed and schedule a time and day for my pickup. It’s available everyday from 8am-8pm at my location (check your location to verify hours). Once I arrived at Wal-mart, I found the large orange pick-up sign and pulled into a parking spot designated for pick-up. Once there, I was able to call and say that I was there and they brought all my items out to my car for me.

For our Dairy-free baked chicken quesadillas, we use Silk Unsweetened Almondmilk. It’s both dairy-free and lactose-free and has a great wholesome taste that our whole family loves. Feeling and eating healthier doesn’t have to be hard, and Silk’s Progress to Perfection helps along the way.  We’ve always touted our “semicruchyish” journey, where we believe everyone can make small steps towards a better, healthier, more eco-friendly lifestyle and that’s just what this Silk program aims to accomplish.  That small victories are still victories. So start by swapping out your milk and you’re one step closer!

For our Wal-mart Online Grocery Pick-up we were able to get unsweetened almondmilk for our quesadilla recipe, along with dark chocolate almondmilk and Silk Vanilla Almond Dairy – Free Yogurt Alternative, which pairs great with fresh fruit on top!

0 from 0 votes
Print
Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadillas
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 

These dairy-free baked chicken quesadillas as so insanely delicious, they'll have you forgetting that you're even missing any dairy. Try out these delicious stuffed quesadillas today! 

Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 4 quesadillas
Calories: 501 kcal
Author: Andrew
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Silk Unsweetened Almondmilk
  • 2 boneless chicken breasts, cubed
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp homemade taco seasoning
  • 4 10" flour tortillas
  • 2 avocados
  • 1 cup black beans
Optional Toppings
  • 1 cup corn
  • 1/2 cup red onions, diced
  • 1/2 cup salsa (or diced tomatoes)
  • 1 jalapeno, sliced thin
Instructions

  1. Soak cubed chicken in almond milk for 30 minutes. 

  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

  3. In a bowl, mix together the flour, breadcrumbs, and taco seasoning. 

  4. Drain any remaining almondmilk from the bowl after 30 minutes. Dredge the chicken cubes in the flour mixture and placed on a lightly greased baking sheet. 

  5. Baked chicken for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and reaches a temperature of 165 degrees. 

  6. Remove from oven. 

  7. Using a fork, smash the avocados until no large chunks remain. 

  8. On one tortilla, spread 1/4 of the smashed avocados across the entire tortilla. 

  9. Add 1/4 of the baked chicken and 1/4 of the beans onto one side of the tortilla. 

  10. Add any optional toppings you may want. 

  11. Fold tortilla in half. 

  12. Place tortilla in a large skillet over medium low heat. 

  13. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Or until golden brown. 

  14. Remove and repeat the process with remaining ingredients. 

  15. Serve alongside a side of salsa. 

Recipe Notes

*Nutritional facts are only estimates and do not include any optional toppings. 

Nutrition Facts
Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadillas
Amount Per Serving (1 quesadilla)
Calories 501 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 31%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 36mg 12%
Sodium 593mg 25%
Potassium 938mg 27%
Total Carbohydrates 56g 19%
Dietary Fiber 12g 48%
Sugars 3g
Protein 24g 48%
Vitamin A 4.5%
Vitamin C 13.4%
Calcium 23.3%
Iron 22.4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this delicious Dairy Free Baked Chicken Quesadilla for later!  

Strawberry Watermelon Juice

by

This strawberry watermelon juice is the ultimate summer drink for the family. Make this delicious watermelon juice recipe in just 5 minutes. 

*Disclosure: affiliate links may be contained in this post. They help us continue to run our site.

I first made this strawberry watermelon juice when I was pregnant with our first.  Up until that point, I drank a lot of soda and other high sugared juices, mostly all processed. It was how I grew up and while I could say I knew better, it’s not something that seemed easy to me at the time. Once I got pregnant, I slowly started becoming aware of the things I was putting into my body. Once we had our daughter and she began to eat herself, we both became hyperaware that we needed to really watch the things that we were eating.

Now that we have two girls, we continue to make simple and delicious juices like this strawberry watermelon juice recipe and both of our girls gobble it down and ask for more.

How to make strawberry watermelon juice? 

Strawberry watermelon juice is insanely easy to make. You only need strawberries and watermelon to make. Once you have your fruit cut away from the outer rind of the watermelon and remove the stems from the strawberries, you place in a high powdered blender. Once blended, you strain to remove any pulp and then serve! Want a slushie consistency? Freeze the fruit for 30 minutes before blending and then you have a strawberry watermelon slushie!

And definitely don’t throw away the pulp! Use it to make some delicious muffins or bread with a sweet taste!

 Ways to Use Watermelon Rinds

Speaking of not wasting! Use up those watermelon rinds.  Contrary to popular belief, watermelon rinds are actually edible and some studies have shown that they actually contain more nutrients than the pink fruit from the watermelon. It’s hard to break our views that it’s not something you can eat, so we put together a list of some delicious ways to use watermelon rinds so you can start today! Here’s 8 ways to use up those watermelon rinds:

 
0 from 0 votes
Print
Strawberry Watermelon Juice
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

This strawberry watermelon juice is the ultimate summer drink for the family. Make this delicious watermelon juice recipe in just 5 minutes. 

Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 cups
Calories: 57 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 4 cups watermelon
  • 1 cup strawberries
  • 1.5 cups water*
Instructions

  1. Add the ingredients to a high powdered blender. 

  2. Blend everything until very well combined.

  3. Pour into a container and enjoy! 

Recipe Notes
  • Some watermelons are much juicier than others. If you have an extremely juicy watermelon and you get 1.5 cups of juice from the watermelon while cutting - Use that before adding water. 
Nutrition Facts
Strawberry Watermelon Juice
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 57
% Daily Value*
Sodium 6mg 0%
Potassium 225mg 6%
Total Carbohydrates 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 11g
Protein 1g 2%
Vitamin A 17.3%
Vitamin C 40.6%
Calcium 1.9%
Iron 2.8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Want even more delicious juice recipes?

You may also be interested in trying out Homemade Strawberry Lemonade!

Pin this Strawberry Watermelon Juice for later!

This strawberry watermelon juice post was originally published on 4/16/2012. Same delicious juice, we’ve just gotten a lot better at photography. Here’s the original picture from the post. 

The Best Peanut Butter and Jelly Recipes

by

Tired of the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich but love the peanut butter jelly combo? Try out the best peanut butter and jelly recipes for a switch!

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY RECIPES

Growing up, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were my jam. (See what I did there?) Of course, we grew up without a ton of money, so I didn’t have many options, but I did truly enjoy peanut butter jelly sandwiches. While I don’t have them as much now, it’s still something I resort back to in a pinch. It’s also something my girls love. Even if I don’t have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches often, I love the sweet and savoriness of the combo together in other recipes.

peanut butter and jelly grilled cheese

Last week, we put together a series of some new peanut butter and jelly creations that were a huge hit!

I know that the peanut butter and jelly burger through some for a loop, but everyone that had tried it before confirmed that it was a legit amazing thing.

peanut butter and jelly burgers

Is Peanut Butter and Jelly good for you?

Yes and No. It ultimately comes down to which products you use to make your peanut butter and jelly recipes. A standard peanut  butter and jelly sandwich can be healthy for you even though jelly is made with sugar.  You can choose a bread that is made from whole grains. Then, make your own homemade peanut butter so the only ingredient is peanuts and possibly a raw honey (so a natural source of sugar). Lastly, choose a no sugar added jam instead of a jelly made with high fructose corn syrup.  These simple swaps will actually make your peanut butter and jelly sandwich and other peanut butter jelly recipes healthier.

peanut butter and jelly smoothie

Everyone loved our peanut butter and jelly recipes series so much we decided to give you all even more. We’ve complied a list of more than 30 peanut butter and jelly recipes. There’s truly something for everyone in our list and we’re sure you’ll find something fun to try.

So move over classic childhood peanut butter and jelly sandwich, it’s time for a new family favorite or favorites!


PIN THIS ULTIMATE LIST OF PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY RECIPES FOR LATER!

must try peanut butter and jelly recipes

Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie

by

This peanut butter and jelly smoothie is a great play on a childhood classic! It’s the perfect smoothie to get protein into a picky child too! 

peanut butter and jelly smoothie

Kids can be insanely picky.  If you live in our house, you know that adults can be ridiculously picky too. But we’re here to focus on the kids today.  One day they will eat something and the next day, they say gross and there’s no way they would ever touch it.  Even the most adventurous eaters go through moments where they want to be picky. Peanut Butter and Jelly recipes though seem to be foolproof.

peanut butter and jelly smoothie recipe

My kids will eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches even when they refuse anything else, especially if I use cookie cutters to turn it in a shape. We’ve made a peanut butter and jelly smoothie bowl before and everyone gobbled it up. So today, we decided to share an equally home favorite – peanut butter and jelly smoothie recipe.

peanut butter jelly smoothie

Is a peanut butter and jelly smoothie healthy?

The simple answer is yes. There’s no actual jelly in the recipe, so it’s not as loaded with sugar as you may think.  We combine homemade peanut butter with strawberries and a banana, add in vanilla yogurt, almond milk, and honey. Just 6 ingredients in this recipe and none are overly processed foods. The non-dairy milk alternative is great healthy addition to a smoothie.  Additionally, our sugar source is natural honey which has a host of health benefits.

peanut butter jelly smoothie recipe

Our girls gobbled up this peanut butter and jelly smoothie and even the picky adult in the house liked it too. Whether you have a picky little or big one, or you are trying to get more calories and protein in your little one for whatever reason, this peanut butter and jelly smoothie recipe is a great idea to try!

pbj smoothie

0 from 0 votes
Print
Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 
Course: Breakfast, Drinks, Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 smoothie
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 6 frozen strawberries
  • 2 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1/2 cup vanilla greek yogurt
  • 1 tsp honey
Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth. 

  2. Add additional milk if a smoothie texture is desired, 1/8 cup at a time. 

pbj smoothie recipe

Pin this Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie Recipe for later!

peanut butter and jelly recipes

Peanut Butter and Jelly Burger

by

Don’t question the combination! You must try this Peanut Butter and Jelly Burger! The unlikely pairing will have you wondering why you never tried this peanut butter and jelly recipe before! 

peanut butter and jelly burger

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

I know what you’re thinking.  Peanut Butter and Jelly Burger? I’ve officially lost my daggone mind.  Who in the world pairs a burger and peanut butter and jelly sandwich together. You may be thinking I’ve gone off my rocker as my great-grandma would say. But just hear me out, okay? First, you may be partly correct about loosing my mind. Being a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom who runs a business is already partly insane. But this peanut butter and jelly burger recipe is not one of those mind-loosing moments.

peanut butter and jelly burger recipe

A few years ago, before the baby was even born, Andrew, Serenity and I did a food tour in Manayunk, PA (Chew Philly Food Tours). One of the stops was at a restaurant called Lucky’s Last Chance and the tasting there was of an award-winning peanut butter and jelly burger. Andrew, being the very picky one in the relationship, said there was no way he was trying it when we got there. I was sort of weirded out, but I’m pretty open to at least trying new things.  Fast forward, and we actually all did try it and loved it.

pbj burger recipe

Peanut Butter and Jelly Burger Recipe

We loved it so much that we decided to recreate it. The burger recipe at Lucky’s was made with a creamy peanut butter, white American cheese, bacon, and served with grape jelly on the side. They describe the peanut butter and jelly burger as an unexpectedly delicious childhood favorite with an adult twist and they couldn’t be more accurate.

peanut butter jelly burger

5 from 2 votes
Print
Peanut Butter and Jelly Burger
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
6 mins
Total Time
11 mins
 

Don't question the combination! You must try this Peanut Butter and Jelly Burger! The unlikely pairing will have you wondering why you never tried this peanut butter and jelly recipe before! 

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 burgers
Calories: 717 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1.5 lbs 80/20 ground beef
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 slices American cheese
  • 4 tbsp grape jelly
  • 4 tbsp creamy peanut butter
  • 4 pieces cooked bacon
  • 4 hamburger buns
Instructions

  1. Divide the meat into 4 equal portions. Shape the beef into 4 patties, slightly larger than your buns. 

  2. Season each patty with salt and pepper to taste. 

  3. Cook burgers on a grill over medium heat for 2-4 minutes on each side or until desired doneness. 

  4. Place cheese on top on burgers to melt, then remove from grill. 

  5. Spread 1 tbsp of jelly on one side of the bun and 1 tbsp peanut butter on the other side of the bun. 

  6. Repeat with remaining buns.

  7. Add burgers to buns and put one slice of bacon, broken in half, on top of each. 

  8. Serve immediately. 

Recipe Notes
  • Recipe makes 4 single patty burgers. To make burgers shown in pictures, double the patties, everything else remains the same. 
  • Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 
Nutrition Facts
Peanut Butter and Jelly Burger
Amount Per Serving (1 burger)
Calories 717 Calories from Fat 378
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 42g 65%
Saturated Fat 15g 75%
Cholesterol 137mg 46%
Sodium 764mg 32%
Potassium 703mg 20%
Total Carbohydrates 39g 13%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 14g
Protein 43g 86%
Vitamin A 4%
Vitamin C 2.8%
Calcium 33%
Iron 30.9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

peanut butter and jelly recipes

Pin this Peanut Butter and Jelly Burger Recipe for later:

how to make a peanut butter and jelly burger

Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream

by

Peanut Butter and Jelly ice cream is the ice cream of your childhood dreams. Whole family approved, this homemade ice cream recipe is a huge hit! 

peanut butter and jelly ice cream
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Scoop Adventures: The Best Ice Cream of the 50 States. Thoughts are opinions are my own. Affiliate links are contained in this post. 
Someone told me before that they didn’t really like ice cream.

via GIPHY

Errr???? Freeze.  Excuse me?  How do you form your lips to speak that?  I will never understand.  My only exception is anything mint. Keep that away from my taste buds. But seriously, how do you just not like ice cream as a whole being. There are endless possibilities to flavor combinations and delicious toppings and cones and oh my gosh how do you not like ice cream.
peanut butter jelly ice cream
A few years ago, we got an ice cream maker, but only attempted to make chocolate ice cream from the book it came with. I was tired of another appliance sitting around not being used, so I decided to sit down with Scoop Adventures: The Best Ice Cream of the 50 States, and try out some of their delicious ice cream flavors. There are over a hundred recipes and I had no clue where to even start.
 peanut butter and jelly recipes

Homemade Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream

I quickly turned to see what New Jersey and West Virginia had to offer since they are closest to my heart.  New Jersey features Sweet Basil Ice Cream from The Bent Spoon in Princeton, New Jersey. And, West Virginia features Pink Panther Ice Cream, a recipe adapted from Ellen’s Home Ice Cream in Charleston, West Virginia. Neither of them sounded exactly like something everyone in our family would like so I asked Andrew to pick. He said, “Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream”.  It sounded amazing and weird all at the same time, but I was going for it.
how to make homemade ice cream
The first time we made this homemade ice cream recipe, we stayed pretty true to the recipe in the cookbook. However, that’s not really my style and I immediately knew how I would change it up the next time around. The kids loved this peanut butter and jelly ice cream recipe and Andrew and I both agreed it would be a hit with some slight changes. It literally tastes like you are eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich but mixed into deliciously churned homemade ice cream.
 homemade ice cream recipe

How to Make Homemade Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream

0 from 0 votes
Print
Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Freezing Time
8 hrs
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 

Peanut Butter and Jelly ice cream is the ice cream of your childhood dreams. Whole family approved, this homemade ice cream recipe is a huge hit! 

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 471 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk divided
  • 1 3/4 cups heavy cream
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 cup unsalted peanut butter divided
  • 3/4 cup grape or strawberry jam
  • chopped peanuts optional
Instructions

  1. Fill a large bowl with ice water. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of the milk with the cornstarch, whisk, and set aside.  Whisk the peanut butter and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.

  2. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of the milk with the cornstarch, whisk, and set aside. 

  3. In a medium bowl, add 1/2 cup peanut butter and set aside.

  4. Combine the remaining milk, heavy cream and sugar in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat.  Bring the milk mixture to a low boil.  Cook until the sugar dissolves, 3 minutes.

  5. Remove from the heat and gradually whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Return to a boil and cook over moderately high heat until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 1 minute. 

  6. Pour into the bowl with the peanut butter and whisk until smooth. It will looks like tiny peanut butter pieces throughout.  

  7. Set the bowl in the ice water bath to cool for 20 minutes. Whisk together. Then, cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 4 hours or overnight.

  8. Once chilled, pour the ice cream based into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacture's instructions.  

  9. Spoon a small layer of jam into a freezer-safe container. Then, lightly spoon a layer of ice cream on top. Drop 1/2 tsp globs of peanut butter on top and use the tip of a knife to carefully swirl it around. Continue to alternate layers of jam, ice cream, and peanut butter until the container is full. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.

  10. Optional: Add chopped nuts to the layers for an added crunch or use them on top. 

Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 471 Calories from Fat 261
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 29g 45%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Cholesterol 75mg 25%
Sodium 51mg 2%
Potassium 244mg 7%
Total Carbohydrates 47g 16%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 35g
Protein 6g 12%
Vitamin A 16.8%
Vitamin C 3.8%
Calcium 10.2%
Iron 3.2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Homemade Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream for later!

how do you make peanut butter and jelly ice cream
Scoop Adventures: The Best Ice Cream of the 50 States  is available now. Some of the other homemade ice cream recipes that sounded amazing to me are: Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Nut, Junk in the Tree Trunk, Mango, Banana Pudding, Chunky Turtle, Pumpkin Ale, Pennsylvania Dutch Chocolate-Covered Pretzel, Lavender Caramel Swirl….ok, I admit, I could write out almost everyone included in the book. Grab the book and an ice cream maker and get ready for summer deliciousness today!
This post was originally posted on 8/15/2014. Same great recipe, but our photography has greatly improved. Some original photos are included below. 


Ultimate Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly

by

The ultimate grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich will blow your mind.  Combining the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich with grilled cheese using perfectly melting gouda cheese and adding in bacon for the ultimate decadent peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

grilled peanut butter and jelly

Sandwiches were a huge part of my childhood. They were really basic though. Grilled cheese. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Ham and cheese.  You get it. Basic. As I grew up, and explored more in the kitchen, I decided to get more creative.  I used to creative these really random things that somehow just always went together.  One was a grilled cheese peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

peanut butter and jelly sandwich ideas

I know what you’re thinking. Peanut Butter and jelly sandwich with cheese doesn’t go together. But what’s the old saying, “Don’t knock it til you try it!” If you’ve never tried a grilled cheese peanut butter and jelly sandwich then you must. But wait. It gets better. Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich with cheese ANDDDD bacon. I promise it’s delicious.  Plus, it’s a great alternative to making your kids the same thing over and over again.

grilled cheese peanut butter and jelly

Does Peanut Butter and Cheese Go Together?

Absolutely peanut butter and cheese go together.  I’ve found it best to use a honey roasted or honey added peanut butter.  My favorite cheese to use is gouda, however, a sharp cheddar or brie is great too depending on what kind of cheese you like.

grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich

How do you make a Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly?

Luckily, it’s insanely easy to make with grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich with cheese and bacon. Take two slices of your desired bread. Spread peanut butter on one side and jelly on one side of second slice. Then, add sliced cheese and cooked bacon. Put two slices of bread together. Next, spread softened, unsalted butter on one outside side of the sandwich. Lay sandwich, butter side down, on a skillet over medium low heat. Now, butter the non-buttered side that is facing up.  When the bottom side gets golden brown, flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until that side is also golden brown.  Serve immediately.

0 from 0 votes
Print
Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly with Bacon
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

The ultimate grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich will blow your mind.  Combining the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich with grilled cheese using perfectly melting gouda cheese and adding in bacon for the ultimate decadent peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

Course: Lunch, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 sandwich
Calories: 844 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 2 slice cinnamon raisin bread
  • 2 tbsp grape jam
  • 2 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 slice cooked bacon broken in half
  • 1 slice gouda cheese
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter softened
Instructions

  1. Take two slices of your desired bread. Spread peanut butter on one side and jelly on one side of second slice. 

  2. Then, add sliced cheese and cooked bacon. Put two slices of bread together. 

  3. Next, spread 1 tbsp butter on one outside side of the sandwich.

  4.  Lay sandwich, butter side down, on a skillet over medium low heat. 

  5. Use remaining butter and spread on the non-buttered side that is facing up. 

  6. Cook 2-3 minutes. 

  7. When the bottom side gets golden brown, flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until that side is also golden brown. 

  8. Serve immediately. 

Nutrition Facts
Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly with Bacon
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 844 Calories from Fat 522
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 58g 89%
Saturated Fat 26g 130%
Cholesterol 109mg 36%
Sodium 734mg 31%
Potassium 405mg 12%
Total Carbohydrates 61g 20%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Sugars 25g
Protein 22g 44%
Vitamin A 17.6%
Vitamin C 4.3%
Calcium 25.8%
Iron 12.8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich with Bacon today! 

peanut butter and jelly grilled cheese with bacon

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies

by

These Peanut Butter and Jelly cookies are one of the most perfect peanut butter and jelly recipes you’ll try.  You will wonder why you never thought to create them before! Use different preserves to tons of variations to this simple recipe!

peanut butter and jelly cookies

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

Growing up, I wasn’t a fan of peanut butter cookies.  I loved cookies and I loved peanut butter, but I was never a huge fan of straight up peanut butter cookies.  I always loved making them with my family though because I thought the fun design you got to put on the top of them was really cool and I loved seeing how it grew but was still the same pattern as it cooked and expanded. The nerd in me learned that peanut butter actually makes cookies dense, so you put the fork marks into the cookie to flatten them so they come out soft with crispy edges.  It’s the best of both loves in the cookie world.

peanut butter and jelly recipes

When Andrew and I were discussing what recipes for our Peanut Butter and Jelly series, we both immediately thought of cookies. We debated if we put the jelly into dough or even if we make thumbprint cookies with peanut butter chips. Ultimately, we decided on jam sandwich cookies.  These were the most true to what peanut butter and jelly traditionalists would consider a peanut butter and jelly cookies. These sandwich cookies are super fun and super easy.  It’s a great way to get the kids involved in cookie making too.

How do you make peanut butter and jelly cookies?

To make these peanut butter sandwich cookies, you take a traditional peanut butter cookie recipe and bake it as normal. Once your cookies are cooked and cooled completely, you garnish one side with jelly. Then, top with another peanut butter cookie.  The type of jelly is completely up to you.  Use traditional grape or often replaced with strawberry. Or, get really creative with blackberry preserves or apricot jam or bacon jam!

And to further the crunchy versus creamy peanut butter debate, you can also top with crushed peanuts on the inside if you wish.

how to make peanut butter and jelly cookies

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies Recipe

0 from 0 votes
Print
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Cooling Time
1 hr
Total Time
27 mins
 

These Peanut Butter and Jelly cookies are one of the most perfect peanut butter and jelly recipes you'll try.  You will wonder why you never thought to create them before! Use different preserves to tons of variations to this simple recipe!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 18 cookie sandwiches
Calories: 359 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 2.5 cup flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbsp white sugar
  • 9 tbsp jelly
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

  2. In a small bowl, add flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Whisk together. 

  3. In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter, peanut butter, brown and 1 cup white sugar. 

  4. Add in eggs, one at a time, and beat just until blended. 

  5. Add in vanilla just until blended. 

  6. Slowly add in the flour mixture until blended. 

  7. Using a 1-inch scoop, roll cookie dough into balls. 

  8. Place remaining 1 tbsp sugar in a bowl. 

  9. Dip a fork in sugar bowl and use it to flatten cookies in a criss-cross pattern. 

  10. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until edges are golden brown. 

  11. Remove from oven and let cool for 3-5 minutes until hardened enough to move to a cooling rack. 

  12. Let cool completely.  

  13. Once cool, spread 1/2 tbsp of jelly on the flat side of one cookie.  Top with another cookie. 

  14. Repeat with remaining cookies. 

Nutrition Facts
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
Amount Per Serving (1 cookie sandwich)
Calories 359 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 27mg 9%
Sodium 144mg 6%
Potassium 166mg 5%
Total Carbohydrates 46g 15%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 29g
Protein 5g 10%
Vitamin A 6.3%
Vitamin C 1.1%
Calcium 3.6%
Iron 6.8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

peanut butter sandwich cookies

Pin these Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies for later!

jam sandwich cookies

Peanut Butter Apple Pie Lactation Smoothie Recipe

by

This Peanut Butter Apple Pie Lactation Smoothie Recipe not only tastes good, but works to help get the calories needed in a simple lactation boosting recipe.  

 peanut butter apple pie lactation smoothie

Watch us make this Peanut Butter Apple Pie Smoothie Recipe

WHERE DID THE TIME GO?
I used to hear mom’s say that ALL the time before I had our girls. Now, we have two girls and our baby is almost six.  When I first wrote this post, I was amazed that not only 18 months had gone by, but that we were still breastfeeding here.  As our this current post, we nursed that 18 month until until she was four, and we are currently nursing her little sister who will be 3 in a few months.
I had no intention of full term breastfeeding and my goal was to make it to 6 months with our first. But here we are.  Some days nursing happens more often than it did when she was a newborn, some days I’m ready to throw in the towel, and many days, I’m extremely grateful to still be able too feed her.  Because I know she needs it.  Physically and emotionally.
lactation smoothie recipe

DO LACTATION RECIPES WORK?

Friends with new babies often reach out because they are scared they won’t produce enough milk.  And my answer is always, “it’s very rare that a mom actually has production issues, however, you can take precautions and be proactive in helping your supply.”
I’ve been working to create some great, easy recipes to share so moms have great options when they need them.  So how can this recipe help with lactation?  Oats and Flax are known help boost milk production, while the peanut butter is a great protein to make sure you are getting the calories you need while satisfying your hunger since you are probably stuck on a couch nursing a baby.
how to make a lactation smoothie

**NOTE:  IF YOU ARE TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR MILK PRODUCTION, PLEASE REACH OUT TO AN IBCLC AND/OR YOUR LOCAL LA LECHE LEAGUE. YOU CAN ALSO READ OUR POST ABOUT LACTATION BOOSTING FOODS TO INCREASE YOUR MILK SUPPLY. 

lactation smoothie recipe

But don’t think that just because we have made it here that we haven’t shared in our own ups and downs.  It’s been a tough road, any breastfeeding mom will tell you the same.  Fortunately, I never had supply issues (most moms don’t), but even I have questioned if I’m still producing enough milk.  I’ve read various articles about increasing milk production and two of those — oatmeal and flax seed — I love adding as often as I can to many things.  Peanut Butter is also a great way to get in healthy fats, protein, and keep you filled for longer (we all know as moms we don’t get to eat very often!). Feel free to sub nut free butters like sunbutter, or use an alternative like almond butter.  It will give it a slightly different taste, but still yum!

peanut butter lactation smoothie

0 from 0 votes
Print
LACTATION BOOSTING PEANUT BUTTER APPLE PIE SMOOTHIE RECIPE
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

This delicious Lactation Boosting Peanut Butter Apple Pie Smoothie recipe will have you asking for another right away! 

Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 smoothie
Calories: 593 kcal
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 apple cored
  • 1 banana
  • 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
  • 2 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 tbsp flax seed (up to 2 tbsp if you are really looking to boost milk production)
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup whole milk Sub for dairy free milk if necessary
Instructions

  1. Add ingredients and blend until well combined.  

Recipe Notes
  1. If texture is a concern for you, add oats to blender first and pulse until fine like flour. Then proceed as normal with remaining ingredients.
  2. To make cold, use a frozen banana or add ice until well blended. 
  3. **Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 
Nutrition Facts
LACTATION BOOSTING PEANUT BUTTER APPLE PIE SMOOTHIE RECIPE
Amount Per Serving (1 smoothie)
Calories 593 Calories from Fat 234
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 26g 40%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 12mg 4%
Sodium 206mg 9%
Potassium 1140mg 33%
Total Carbohydrates 81g 27%
Dietary Fiber 14g 56%
Sugars 42g
Protein 18g 36%
Vitamin A 7.4%
Vitamin C 22.6%
Calcium 19.9%
Iron 14.2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pin this Peanut Butter Apple Pie Lactation Recipe for later!

lactation smoothie recipe with peanut butter

*The pictures below were the original pictures for this Peanut Butter Apple Pie Lactation Recipe which you may have seen floating around Pinterest.  It’s the same recipe, we’ve just gotten a lot better at photography!

VIEW OUR PRIVACY POLICY

Even More Recent Posts

We’re Parents is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com